Container bung



Oct. 19, 1937. w, LAUBER 2,095,432

' CONTAINER BUNG Filed Aug. 16 1935 0 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED vSTATES PATENT FFME CONTAINER BUNG l yWis.

Application August 16, 1935, Serial No. 36,503

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cony tainer bungs. f

It has for many years been common practice the bung opening and arefrequently broken by the mallet resulting in waste of both time andmaterial. Furthermore, latent defects in the wood not uncommonly resultin leakage. In addition, when the empty barrels are returned to thebrewery, the bung must be bored or chipped out with the result thatvfragments of the wood often fall into the barrel and remain there afterWashing.

It is an object of thev present invention to provide an inexpensivemetal bung adapted to overcome the above rnentionedobjectionablefeatures. While in the past it has been proposed to employ metal bungsacting in conjunction with rubber sleeves oriwashers to seal theopening, these devices have never been commercially satisfactory as therubber necessarily comes in contact with the beer and the sulphurcontained in the rubber contaminates the beverage. Furthermore, thesebungs are not capable of remaining securely in position when subjectedto the joltsr occurring during the handling and transportationofbarrels. v

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a container bungin which a metal screw coacts with a sleeve of deformable metal topermanently and securely seal the barrel opening.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a device of theclass described which may include a shield for the deformable metal toprevent the latter rfrom coming in contact with the beer and also toprevent any leakage of beer through the screw threads. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a container bung whichcan be removed, when the empty barrel is returned to the brewery, bymeans of a special pulling tool, there being no possibility of anyforeign matter falling into the barrel during such removal.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a metal container bungwhich is constructed to yreadily receive a disc label or seal, whichlabel may bear the date of the brew and' any desired advertisingmaterial, and which further is so held in .position as to make itimpossible to tamper with the bung without first mutilating the label.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metaIbung, which,while particularly adapted for use in connection with beer barrels, isnevertheless susceptible of a wide range of other uses.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved container bung and all its parts and combinations as set forthin the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of thepreferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numeralsdesignate the same parts in all of the views Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view through the bung opening of a barrel showing the improvedbung in position therein before it has been locked in place, thedot-and-dash lines indicating a turning tool cooperating therewith;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing the bung in sealingcondition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bung opening with the improved bung inposition therein;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the screw element alone;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the improved bung alone in condition foruse;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bung opening showing a label in position onthe bung; and

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the special pulling tool inposition for removal of the bung from an empty barrel, parts of the toolbeing broken away and shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 8 designates afragment of a container surrounding the usual bung opening 9. Saidopening 9 is fitted with the usual downwardly and inwardly tapered metalbushing IU, which bushing terminates short of the interior of the barrelas at il. The bushing may further be formed with the usual exterior angel2.

The improved bung consists of two parts, a screw I3 and a sleeve lli.The screw may be formed of any suitable metal, but is preferably of castiron or steel. The threads I3' may be either cast thereon or formed on ascrew machine. The upper end of the screw is of somewhat less diameterthan the lower end thereof to provide sides which are tapered in areverse direction to the taper of the sides of the bushing. In addition,the lowermost screw thread l5 projects laterally beyond the other screwthreads for a purpose to be hereinafter described in detail. The upperend of the screw is provided with an opening of any desired shape forcooperation with a turning tool. In the drawing a circular opening i6 isillustrated which has a laterally extending key slot Il, the opening I6communicating with a larger opening I8 therebelow. It will thus be seenthat this opening is adapted to cooperate with a turning tool YI9 havinga round lower portion 2S formed with a projecting key y2l forcooperation with the key slot I1. The opening I6 may, of course, berectangular for cooperation with a rectangular end of a different typeof turning tool.

After the screw is manufactured the sleeve I4 may be formed by pouringmetal around the'screw as the core of a mold. The sleeve i4 ispreferably formed of lead and has its interior opening tapered toconform to theY taper of the screw inasmuch as some breweries vmayobject to lead coming in contact with the beer, it is preferred toutilize a cup shaped shield 23 on the bottom of the sleeve. This shieldis preferably 0f aluminum foil.

In actual practice, in manufacturing the bung, the aluminum foil isfirst pressed into the cup shaped form and placed in the bottom of amold. The screw i3 is then centered within the shield and the lead orother deformable material is poured into the space between the sides ofthe mold and the screw. This causes the foil shield to be cast into thelead sleeve as an integral part thereof and to be'indented into thesides thereof so that the sides of the sleeve, with the shield thereonare flush from top to bottom. While aluminum foil is the preferredmaterial for the shield, other suitable sheet material may be employed.After therbung assemblage has been Y manufactured as above described, itis preferable to place it in a vibrator to break the adhesion betweenthe screw and the lead so that the screw Y V'extends in a reversedirection to the .taper of the sides ofthe bushing l0, and to the factthat the bottom screw thread l5 projects laterally beyond the otherscrew threads, the result of this upward turning is a deformation of thelower portion of the lead sleeve as shown in` Fig. 2 so that the sleeveis pressed tightly against the sides of the ybushing and so that itslower portion is flared outwardly to prevent withdrawal of the bung. Itwill thus be seen that with this method of deforming the lead sleeve,that no jolts however severe can disturb the secure sealing effect. Itwill further be seen that the foil shield 23 prevents the beverage andgas from coming in contact with the screw and sleeve, andpossiblyfleaking out through the screw threads. The shield may extendany desired'distance upwardlyon When the empty barrel is returned tothebrewery, a special pulling tool may be employed toV remove the bung from`the opening. As shownV The lower ends of the fingers may be recessed asat 32.

When the ngers are compressed theymay be inserted in-the opening 2c o-fthe screw and dropped to the position shown by loosening kof the nut 28.When in proper position, a cam or the like 33'isturnedby means of alever 345 to expandV the lowerends of the fingers. Next by turning'downwardly on Vthe Vnut Y2il,Y the screw 21 'tion against tapers 3ltothe expanded position Y Vshown in, the gure.

and fingers are raised causing theentire bung to beV forcibly pulled outYof the bung opening.

VInstead of the cam resilient means may-be em-fl ploycd between thelingers tonormally hold them in expanded'position so that the ngers canbe When the bung is removed, the lead ring' will,A of course, bemutilated. The screw however is in condition for re-use, and they screwsmay be A' returned by the brewery to the manufacturer and used asacredit against new bung assemblies.Y As' an alternative the manufacturerofthe bungs may i furnish only new lead sleeves and separate shields 23so that the brewer'can reassemble his own bungsusing the screw portionsi3 over andfover again. f

. l Vl0 From the above it may be seenthat avery simple form rof bung hasbeen provided which is y highly satisfactory due to the Vuse ofdistortable metal for .the sleeve. This metal is the principal featureof the invention in viewY of the fact that when distorted by upwardturning of the screw,Y

end of the bushing to absolutely prevent loosening or removal withoutthe Vuse of the pulling tool.

`It will further, be seen that the shield absolutely prevents any`contamination of the beer from the materials which might be used in thebung. In addition it will be seen that with the method of removalprovided, there is no danger of any foreign matter falling intoVthebarrel such as is the casefwhenrwooden Ybungs haveto" bechipped'orbored out. Y V

Although only one -form'of the invention has been shown and described,is obvious that variouschanges and modifications may 'be madewithoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and all of 'suchchanges are contemplated as may come within the'scope Yof Vthe claims.Y

WhatI claim isz- Y' 1. A bung for sealing a'container opening comjprising a sleeve of highly ductile and deformable metal of a size to ritthe container opening, and

Vmeans within said sleeve and movable with respect thereto shaped todeform the sleeve into sealing and locking relationship with the con'-`tainer opening when so moved.

2. A bung for lsealingra c-ontainer opening com- Y prising a lead sleeveof a size to fit the container able with respect thereto shaped todeform the sleeve into sealing and locking relationship with thecontainer opening when so moved.

' 3. A bung for sealing a container opening comprising a sleeve ofdeformable metal of a size to iit the container opening, and meanswithin said sleeve and movable outwardly with respect thereto shapedtodeform the sleeve into sealing and locking relationship with thecontainer opening when so moved.

ll. A bung for sealing a container opening wherein said opening has aninner peripheral shoulder comprising a sleeve of deformable metal of asize to fit said opening and to project inwardly beyond said shoulder,and means within said sleeve and movable outwardly with respect theretoshaped to compress the sleeve into sealing relationship against thesides of the Opening and to deform the lower portion of the sleeve tolocking position beneath Said shoulder when said means is so moved.

5. In a container having an opening, a bushing iitted within saidopening, and a bung cooperable with said bushing, said bung comprising asleeve of deformable metal of a size to t within said bushing and toproject inwardly beyond the inner end of the bushing, and means withinsaid sleever and movable outwardly with respect thereto shaped tocompress the sleeve into sealing relationship against the sides of thebushing and to deform the lower portion of the sleeve to lockingposition beneath the inner end of the bushing.

6. A bung for sealing a container opening,vcom

prising a sleeve of a size to it the Container opening, means withinsaid sleeve and movable with respect thereto shaped to compress thesleeve into sealing relationship with the container opening when somoved, and means for preventing material within the container fromcontacting said sleeve.

'7. A bung for sealinga container opening, comprising a sleeve of a sizeto lit the container opening, means within said sleeve and movable withrespect thereto shaped to compress the sleeve into sealing relationshipwith the container opening when so moved, and a cup shaped shield fittedon the lower end of said sleeve for preventing material within thecontainer from contacting said sleeve.

8. A bung for sealing a container opening, comprising a sleeve of a sizeto t the container opening, means within said sleeve and movable withrespect thereto shaped to compress the sleeve into sealing relationshipwith the container opening `when so moved, and a cup shaped shield of.aluminum foil iitted on the lower end of said sleeve for preventingmaterial within the container from contacting said sleeve.

9. A bung for sealing a container opening, coinprising a sleeve of asize to t the container opening, means within said sleeve and movablewith respect theretoshaped to compress the sleeve into sealingrelationship with the container opening when so moved, and a cup shapedshield cast onto the lower end of said sleeve as an integral partthereof for preventing material within the container from contactingsaid sleeve.

l0. A bung for sealing a container opening, comprising a sleeve ofdeformable metal of a size to t the container opening, and a screw indirect threaded connection with said sleeve for movement outwardly withrespect thereto, said Screw being shaped to deform the sleeve intosealing and locking relationship with the container opening whenthreaded outwardly.

11. A bung for sealing a container opening, comprising a sleeve ofdeformable metal of a size to fit the container opening, and a screw indirect threaded connection with said sleeve for movement outwardly withrespect thereto, said screw having .an inner thread portion projectinglaterally beyond other thread portions to deform the sleeve into sealingand locking relationship with the container opening when the screw isthreaded outwardly.

12. In a container having an opening, a bushing tted within saidopening, and a bung cooperable with said bushing, said bung comprising asleeve of deformable metal of a size to t within said bushing and toproject inwardly beyond the inner end of the bushing, and a screw indirect threaded connection with said sleeve for movement outwardly withrespect thereto, said screw being shaped to compress the sleeve intosealing relationship against the sides of the bushing and to deform thelower portion of the sleeve to locking position beneath the inner end ofthe bushing.

13. A bung for sealing a container opening wherein said opening isinwardly tapering, comprising a sleeve of deformable metal of a size andshape to fit said opening, and a screw in threaded connection with saidsleeve for movement outwardly with respect thereto, said screw beingoutwardly tapering to deform the sleeve into sealing and lockingrelationship with the container opening when threaded outwardly.

14. A bung for sealing a container opening wherein said opening isinwardly tapering, comprising a sleeve of deformable metal of a size andshape to i-lt said opening, and a screw in threaded connection with saidsleeve for movement outwardly with respect thereto, said screw beingoutwardly tapering and having an inner thread portion projectinglaterally beyond other thread portions to deform the sleeve into sealingand locking relationship with the container opening when the screw isthreaded outwardly.

15. In a container having an opening, an inwardly tapering bushingiitted within said opening, and a bung cooperable with said bushing,said bung comprising a sleeve of deformable metal of a size to t withinsaid bushing and to project inwardly beyond the inner end of thebushing, and a screw in threaded connection with said sleeve formovement outwardly with respect thereto, said screw being outwardlytapering to press the sleeve into sealing relationship against the sidesof the bushing when threaded outwardly.

16. In a container having an opening, an inwardly tapering bushing ttedwithin said opening, and a bung cooperable with said bushing, said bungcomprising a sleeve of deformable metal of a size to fit within saidbushing and to project inwardly beyond the inner end of the bushing, anda screw in threaded connection with said sleeve for movement outwardlywith respect thereto, said screw having an inner thread portionprojecting laterally beyond other thread portions and being outwardlytapering to compress the sleeve into sealing relationship against thesides of a bushing and to deform the lower portion of the sleeve tolocking position beneath the inner end of the bushing.

WILLIAM LAUBER.

